Management
Trump is staffing up agencies with political appointees. They’re not sticking around, new analysis finds
The Partnership for Public Service previously reported on high turnover among Senate-confirmed political appointees during the president’s second term. In a new report, researchers from the nonprofit find a similar trend with non-Senate-confirmed ones.
Workforce
For federal executives, retirement means losing more than a job
COMMENTARY | Retirement planning often focuses on benefits and finances. For senior federal employees, leaving government can also mean giving up a title, mission and professional identity, while agencies face the loss of decades of expertise.
Management
CDC, after months of delays, gives employees 20 days to resubmit disability accommodation documentation
CDC is spending months, if not longer, to process reasonable accommodation requests because HHS-wide layoffs and separation incentives decimated the department’s human resources functions.
Tech
NSA looks to AI to help analysts sift through vast data troves
The tools can speed up work that takes days or weeks, the agency’s cybersecurity chief said.
Sponsor Content
Government Efficiency Depends on How Work Moves
Government efficiency isn’t just about automation. See where information bottlenecks are hiding—and how leading governments are removing them.
Oversight
Musk should testify about overstated savings from DHS contract cancellations, Democrats argue
The Government Accountability Office reported that contract terminations pushed by the Department of Government Efficiency yielded a net of $92 million — much less than the Homeland Security Department’s public report of as much as $10.5 billion in potential savings.
Management
FEMA’s future looks clearer. Disaster aid is still uncertain
The emergency management agency is rebuilding after a year of upheaval, but the Trump administration’s approach to disaster declarations and federal recovery funds is leaving states unsure what support they can count on.
Updated
Management
USDA employees dispute ‘inflated’ claim that most staff asked to relocate will do so
USDA employees say they have nothing to lose by saying they plan to relocate, even if they have no intention of moving, or are only considering it as a last resort.
Sponsor Content
From Experimentation to Execution: The State of Agentic AI in the Federal Government
How ready is the federal government for agentic AI? Explore the latest adoption trends, barriers, and strategies in our new report.
Workforce
Former pardon atty calls MSPB ‘a dead end,’ sues for reinstatement
Liz Oyer, who was fired from her position as pardon attorney last year over her refusal to recommend that Mel Gibson’s right to own a firearm be restored, said the Justice Department did not follow its own policies when it removed her.
FEATURED INSIGHTS
Pay & Benefits
Reliable rules for your retirement recordkeeping
Pro-tip: Don’t let messy files stall your federal exit.
Workforce
Former CISA employee pleads guilty to defrauding government with secret contractor jobs
Prosecutors say Richeline Fung secretly held contractor jobs tied to six agencies and claimed up to 33-hour workdays while working full time for the federal cyber agency.
Oversight
Inspectors general are facing an identity crisis. Here’s how some former IGs would preserve the watchdogs’ independence
A panel of former leaders of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency made several recommendations for reforming the group, which has been targeted by the Trump administration.
TSP TICKER
FUND
G
F
C
S
I
SEP 08 CLOSE
$20.1964
$20.8216
$123.7279
$116.4885
$66.7486
DAILY CHANGE
0.0109
-0.0089
-0.7223
-0.7307
0.0563
THIS MONTH (%)
0.11
-0.12
-0.13
-0.07
0.93
FUND
L 2070
L 2060
L 2050
L 2040
L 2030
L INCOME
SEP 08 CLOSE
$14.7105
$24.8241
$47.1102
$75.9837
$63.8911
$31.1411
DAILY CHANGE
-0.0515
-0.0869
-0.1346
-0.1859
-0.1094
-0.0202
THIS MONTH (%)
0.25
0.25
0.21
0.20
0.17
0.14
FUND
SEP 08
CLOSE
CLOSE
DAILY
CHANGE
CHANGE
THIS
MONTH
MONTH
G
$20.1964
0.0109
0.11
F
$20.8216
-0.0089
-0.12
C
$123.7279
-0.7223
-0.13
S
$116.4885
-0.7307
-0.07
I
$66.7486
0.0563
0.93
L 2070
$14.7105
-0.0515
0.25
L 2060
$24.8241
-0.0869
0.25
L 2050
$47.1102
-0.1346
0.21
L 2040
$75.9837
-0.1859
0.20
L 2030
$63.8911
-0.1094
0.17
L INCOME
$31.1411
-0.0202
0.14
Management
OPM taps new healthcare and insurance chief ahead of Open Season
Matthew Kiley will take over as the division prepares for Open Season following a round of workforce cuts.
Tech
The National Science Foundation is building out the government’s AI research infrastructure
A new center will help the agency expand access to the computing power and other resources researchers need to develop artificial intelligence.
Management
Scammers are making the government harder to trust
COMMENTARY | As government impersonation scams proliferate, agencies face a growing challenge: convincing Americans that legitimate calls, texts and other messages are actually from the government.
Management
Inspector general fired by Trump talks leadership, OIG independence and his new memoir
Former Labor watchdog Larry Turner writes about confronting racism, working under “toxic” bosses and what he misses most about being in government.
Pay & Benefits
TSP funds were back in the black in August
After two months of stock market slowdowns, the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program saw each of its offerings increase in value again.
Management
Shutdown threat possibly lifted as House passes stopgap spending bill
The measure gives Congress more time to reach a deal on a comprehensive spending package for fiscal 2027.
Updated
Management
Nearly 3,150 Labor employees seeking disability accommodations impacted by data leak, internal memo says
A recently disclosed data leak impacts employees who have submitted reasonable accommodation requests since October 2023.
Pay & Benefits
Trump’s 2027 pay freeze has unions warning of recruitment, retention problems
Critics of President Trump’s plan to keep most federal employees’, save for federal law enforcement officers and military service members, pay at 2026 levels say it picks winners and losers.
Oversight
Federal disability employment program faced widespread compliance problems, whistleblower investigation finds
The AbilityOne Commission countered that “many of the compliance concerns cited by [the Office of Special Counsel] occurred during periods of operational disruption, including the pandemic.”
Exclusive
Management
‘Not our decision,’ USPS chief says, as agency faces mail-in voting lawsuits and a looming cash crisis once more
Postmaster General David Steiner says USPS “is not a political organization,” as it carefully navigates its way through yet another round of election mail lawsuits and urges Congress for help to avoid running out of cash.
Management
Why a smaller government isn't automatically better
COMMENTARY | Downsizing without a plan is a recipe for failure. History shows that smarter workforce reductions require more than just cuts.
Workforce
Here’s what Trump’s new ‘Space Academy’ could mean for the US military
A new source for commissioned officers—but is it needed?
